Milan, 29 October (LaPresse) – The reduction in the presence of US troops on Europe's eastern flank ‘is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a sign of reduced commitment to NATO and Article 5. Rather, it is a positive sign of increased European capabilities and responsibilities.’ This was reported by the regional command of the US Army responsible for Europe, US Army Europe. ‘Our NATO allies are responding to President Trump's call to take primary responsibility for the conventional defence of Europe. This adjustment in the position of the armed forces will not change the security environment in Europe,’ adds the note, explaining that ‘as part of the Secretary of War's deliberate process to ensure a balanced military posture for the US armed forces, the 2nd Combat Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division will be redeployed as planned to its home unit in Kentucky without being replaced.’ ‘The United States maintains a strong presence throughout the European theatre and retains the ability to deploy forces and resources to achieve theatre objectives and support US priorities, including President Trump's commitment to defend NATO allies,’ concludes U.S. Army Europe. The Romanian Ministry of Defence reported today that the United States has informed its NATO allies that it will reduce its troop presence along Europe's eastern border with Ukraine as it intends to focus on security priorities in other parts of the world. According to reports from Bucharest, the US decision ‘will halt the rotation in Europe of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries,’ including a base in Romania. Specifically, it said, about 1,000 US soldiers will remain stationed in Romania. In April, it was estimated that more than 1,700 US military personnel were deployed there, and a brigade usually has between 1,500 and 3,000 soldiers. Romanian Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said the decision reflects Washington's shift ‘towards the Indo-Pacific region’ and that the number of allied troops will remain higher than before Russia's large-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. ‘Our strategic partnership is strong, predictable and reliable,’ he said at a press conference. In a post on X, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said that the United States ‘remains committed to Romania’. Depending on operations and exercises, there are usually between 80,000 and 100,000 US soldiers on European soil.
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